In the pre-dawn swoop today Andhra Pradesh police have launched series of raids on the houses of private money lenders across the state in an effort to curb the alleged anti-social activities by influential among them. The raids come in the wake of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s call to the police not to spare anybody, howsoever politically connected they were, to stop the activities such as call money. Naidu had given instructions while addressing the Collectors’ conference in Vijayawada. They are said to have launched the raids in districts of Guntur, Krishna, Ongloe, Chittoor, Nellore, East Godavari, West Godavari etc
The women of self-help groups (SHG) have become soft targets for the money lenders in the state ever since their economic activities hit a financial crunch. First they fell prey to the micro finance companies, whose harassment for the repayment of high interest loans forced many women commit suicide in Andhra Pradesh and Telangna. Finally, the state had to impose a ban though an act of Assembly three years back. Now, following the banks’ refusal to refinance them, they were forced to go to private money lenders, which finally turned into a call money racket, according to opposition parties in the state. The unearthing of Call Money racket also brought to light a sex racket as well in which operator force women to trade sex for the defaulted loans. The CM instructed the police to book cases, including Nirbhaya against the money lenders who were collecting exorbitant interest rates and forcing attachment of properties of the defaulted victims.
In Krishna district, police are said to have raided the houses in Machilipatnam, Gudivada, Vuyyuru, Mylavaram and other places and seized documents and jewelry.
Three days back in Machavaram police busted a seven-member call moeny cum sex racket gang Machavaram police registered a case against a seven-member call money which was allegedly involved in the sexual harassment of women, some whom even have reportedly attempted suicide unable to bear the harassment. Though details are not available, searches have also been conducted at Nunna, Jakkampudi, One Town, Patamata, Auto Nagar, Ajitnagar, Krishna Lanka etc in Vijayawada.
